AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 14, 2025

Gael Monfils

Press Conference

G. MONFILS/G. Mpetshi Perricard

7-6, 6-3, 6-7, 6-7, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Congrats, Gael. You won Auckland last week before you came to Melbourne. You beat Giovanni five sets today. Do you feel like 38 is the new 28?

GAEL MONFILS: Yeah, I wish I could say that, but I just feel great. I don't really, as I said, look up my age. It is just a number. Then I try to avoid to think about it, but I can tell you that tomorrow morning I will be more than 48 than 38 (smiling).

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Just from your own standpoint, how did you feel physically out on the court today throughout the match? Did you fade at all, or did you feel strong throughout?

GAEL MONFILS: You know, I feel great for my position, in a way, but I had some up-and-down. I have a lot of experience about those matches, about also my condition, but overall, I feel I was good physically.

Overall, I was happy the way I respond physically, how I meant in my focus where I wanted it. So I was happy with that.

Q. You played a whole five-set match without facing a breakpoint. What's it like being so dominant on your serve by it being so tight? How does that feel against a big server like Giovanni?

GAEL MONFILS: It's the main point. Also, I feel like some people, they mistake. When you play a guy like Giovanni, John, Reilly, the main focus is your serve. The main focus of your serve is actually to try to don't face breakpoint. That's the main focus, because you under pressure at that moment.

So many points that you need to play smarter, you need to actually get your focus to be, you know, in a way that you're not facing breakpoint.

Today I was able to do it with some very good service game, some fortunate points that help. But the focus was there, and then I was happy with that.

Q. Giovanni's serve, you have faced a lot of serves over the years. How good is his?

GAEL MONFILS: Of course, he is one of the top server that you face, and now he is in the category of Reilly, John, Ivo, Milos. His serve is two points. Of course it's a bullet, his first serve, but where for me stand out in this category is because his second serve is crazy good. He is I think even better than those guys.

Maybe his first serve is not the best of this category of guys, but his second serve is the best, because the way he hit it, the accuracy, the power that he put is only him. I think he is the first guy on tour who hit second serve as big.

Q. I remember a couple years ago you said, looking back on your career, I only need one. I don't need to win 20 Grand Slams like some of these other guys. I would just one day would love one. Now, I realize a couple more years have passed, but do you still allow yourself to dream when you're in these tournaments? I know you have to go a match at a time, but do you still dream?

GAEL MONFILS: You know, I will answer it like general. I think in life, you need to dream. I have many dreams (smiling).

Q. What is the most satisfying thing about coming into the new season, playing as you did in Auckland and now beating one of the best young players here?

GAEL MONFILS: Most satisfying is to win. At the end of the day, a win is a win. You're satisfied with that. Been working quite hard. Then when you can win one, two, three matches, it's just like something, you know, you're happy with and you want to keep going in this direction.

Q. You said you don't want to think about your age, but does it feel good to play against a young player like Giovanni and be there for five sets?

GAEL MONFILS: Honestly, I never really think about it, you know. I never really think about it. It's more you guys, you know, asking me a lot about it, but me, as I say, I'm trying my best. I'm trying my best. I know I'm aged a little bit, but I try my best.

I know this week, you know, I can sometimes have the double of the age of the guy. I have, yeah, I think 21 years of career, and he's 21 years old, Giovanni. Of course numbers are there, but I'm fighting, so I try not to put any number in my head.

Q. This deep into your career, does a result like this mean more to you? Conversely, if you had have lost this match, would it have been harder to get over or easier?

GAEL MONFILS: I'm happy. I'm a competitive guy. I love competition, so I'm happy. A win is a win. Frankly, with you, I'm happy with everything now, you know, but maybe that's why, you know, I'm even smoother. I always smooth, but I lose this match, I wait couple more days. You know, I'm lucky to be here. My wife is playing. My daughter is waiting for me.

I'm happy with my life. I won this match. I'm crazy happy. I have another chance to come out and play in a packed stadium. Everything is a win now, so, you know, no pressure on me.